What else I noticed is that the Pharisees called themselves holy and acted all righteous in the marketplaces but in reality they were cheating on widows and steal their houses (Mark 12:40) and turn around and say a prayer while others are watching.
As sad as it is, this makes me think of people today. They're always worried about equality and tolerance and they say "love the gay people" and "they're cheating on their spouse it's okay love them anyways" but then they turn around and hate on someone's whose overweight, someone who lives out their faith, someone who has a weird voice or who asks too many questions.
They say love the people who are "hated" by Christians when in fact it's the (real) Christians who genuinely love them.
No, I don't promote the act of being gay. I don't promote having sex outside of marriage. I don't promote getting wasted. I think these things are sinful, they go against what God has told us is right. They. Are. Wrong.
Yet, do I hate the people that take part in these things? Heck no. I love people so much. I love hearing their stories, laughing with them, seeing them grow up and mature. Just because they have sins doesn't mean I hate them, because guess what, I am flawed too. As a Christian, I mess up every single day. I may not be gay or or sleep around, but I judge people, I make fun of people, I get mad, I cuss, I have road rage, and none of these sins are worse or less than any other sin. They're all equal.
So here I am annoyed that people think Christians hate everyone who don't live the same as them or believe the same things, when in fact we are called to love everyone, even our enemies with the love that Christ has shown us.
And then I remember that I can't blame them. Because there are "fake Christians" who say they are saved and who say they believe the Bible but really have no clue or care to follow what it says.
So I am puzzled. Why do people claim to be Christians when they have no intentions on living like one? Why bother claiming that title and bringing a bad name to the rest of the Christians who are taking their faith seriously and to, more importantly, Jesus, when they can just live their life without having that title?
It's better to just admit that you're not a Christian than pretend to be one on Sundays.
Just a few thoughts.
